Curcuma plant named &#39;Apollo&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  curcuma  plant having red colored inflorescences.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/762,730, filed May 17, 2018, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Botanical classification: Curcuma hybrid.

Varietal denomination: ‘Apollo’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of curcuma plant known by the varietal name ‘Apollo’. The new variety was discovered in 2016 in Chiangmai, Thailand as the result of a planned breeding program with the purposes of providing curcuma plants with new coloration and characteristics. The new variety is the result of a cross between an unnamed and unpatented Curcuma alismatifolia variety (female parent) and an unnamed and unpatented Curcuma aurantiaca variety (male parent). The new variety is similar to its female parent in exhibiting large and long upper inflorescence bracts, but exhibits a larger overall inflorescence size than its female parent. ‘Apollo’ exhibits similar inflorescence color to its male parent, but differs from its male parent in lip flower color. Tissue culture and bulb asexual reproductions of the new variety first occurred in 2016 in Chiangmai, Thailand. ‘Apollo’ has been trial and field tested and has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics and remain true to type through successive propagations. The present invention has not been evaluated under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

The large, red inflorescences and red upper surface leaf midrib color distinguish ‘Apollo’ from other curcuma varieties known to the breeder. Further, when ‘Apollo’ is compared to Curcuma hybrid ‘Maroon Heart’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. ______ ), the varieties are similar in inflorescence height and exhibiting a red colored leaf midrib. However, the varieties differ in inflorescence color (‘Maroon Heart’ has darker red colored inflorescences than ‘Apollo’).

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic drawing taken at approximately 60 days of age illustrates the new variety, with the colors being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrations of this type.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth the characteristics of the new variety at approximately 60 days of age. The data which defines these characteristics was collected under natural light in Chiangmai, Thailand. Plants of the new variety were grown in 20.3 cm pots in a plastic greenhouse in Chiangmai, Thailand and watered 1-2 times a day, if needed. Color references are primarily to the 2016 HTML Color Chart.

-   Plant:     -   -   Time to initiate roots: About 20-30 days at about 30-33° C.             Time to produce a rooted young plant: About 45 days at about             30-33° C. Root description: Fibrous, with a pale brown             colored (A57C55) milk tank. Number of rhizomes produced per             plant: From 1-3. Rhizome diameter: 3.0 cm. Growth habit:             Annual. Plant height (soil level to top of inflorescences):             50.0 cm. Plant diameter: 30.0-40.0 cm. Pubescence: None             observed. Disease resistance/susceptibility: None observed.             Pest resistance/susceptibility: None observed. Temperature             tolerance: 20-40° C. or tropical climate conditions. Drought             tolerance: Unknown. Seed/fruit: None observed to date.         -   Leaves.—Arrangement: Alternate. Average number per plant: 5.             Length: 20.0 cm. Width: 10.0 cm. Shape of leaf (generally):             Broad. Shape of apex: Attenuate. Shape of base: Obtuse.             Margin description: Entire. Texture: Upper surface: Smooth.             Lower surface: Smooth. Aspect: Upright. Color: Young leaves:             Upper surface: Green (C5E96E). Lower surface: Green             (7BA058). Mature leaves: Upper surface: Green (578441).             Lower surface: Green (3B631D). Veins: Appearance: Pinnate             and penninerved. Color: Upper surface: Green (55783C) with a             red (683C42) midrib. Lower surface: Green (55783C) with a             red (683C42) midrib. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Inflorescence arrangement.—1 upright inflorescence per             shoot. Inflorescence number per plant: From 2-3.             Inflorescence length: 35.0 cm. Inflorescence diameter:             7.0 cm. Fragrance: None. Flower bracts: Total number per             inflorescence: Approximately 25. Upper bracts: Number:             Approximately 10. Length: 5.0 cm. Width: 3.0 cm. Shape:             Oblong. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Ovate. Margin: Entire.             Texture: Upper surface: Smooth. Lower surface: Smooth.             Color: Upper surface: Red (C24838). Lower surface: Red             (87252C). Lower bracts: Number: Approximately 10. Length:             3.0 cm. Width: 3.0 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Mucronate. Base:             U-shaped. Margin: Entire. Texture: Upper surface: Smooth.             Lower surface: Smooth. Color: Upper surface: Red (551D21).             Lower surface: Red (763F3F).         -   Flowers.—Number per inflorescence: Approximately 50.             Continuity of flowering: 1 month. Lastingness of an             individual flower: 1-2 days. Length: 3.5 cm. Diameter:             2.0 cm. Appearance: Orchidaceous form. Upper petals: Upper             surface color: Pale yellow (C2997F). Lower surface color:             Pale yellow (C2997F). Lower petals: Upper surface color:             Yellow (C9A076) and purple (934267). Lower surface color:             Yellow (C9A076) and purple (934267).         -   Peduncles.—Length: 15.0 cm. Diameter: 1.0 cm. Texture:             Smooth. Angle: Upright. Color: Green (827912). -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Number: 1. Filament: Length: 2.0 cm. Diameter:             1.0 mm. Color: Pale cream (C6AE98). Anthers: Shape: 2-lobed.             Length: 3.0 mm. Color: Pale cream (C6AE98). Pollen: None             observed. Pistils: Number: 1. Length: 1.0 cm. Style: Length:             1.0 cm. Diameter: 2.0 mm. Color: Pale cream (C6AE98).             Stigma: Length: 2.0 mm. Diameter: 2.0 mm. Color: Pale cream             (C6AE98). 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of curcuma plant, as is herein illustrated and described. 